Petrus Josephus "Peter" van Kessel (born 25 December 1933)[1] is a Dutch historian.
He spent his career at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome, ultimately becoming vice director.
Van Kessel was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies.
He obtained his PhD in 1963 with a thesis titled: "Duitse studenten in Padua rond 1600 en de controverse Rome-Venetië".
[4] Van Kessel would work at the institute until 1994, ultimately becoming vice director.